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It Had To Be You	By : lorettcopeland Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 45616 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
IT HAD TO BE YOU

Story Begun � 12/26/04
Chapter seven begun � 1/28/06
Chapter seven completed � 7/2/06

OFFICIAL DISCLAIMER: I do not own (unfortunately) any Harry Potter Characters, trains, buildings, etc. That honor is JKR�s - damnit.

As always a GRATEFUL AND GIGANTIC, HEAPING BUNCHES OF THANKS to my dear friend and so very patient Beta - Ronnie! LOVE YOU! MWAP!

A/N: So my lovlies - here is the next installment for IHTBY. I hope you likie! Grab a hankie friends, this is the obligatory drama and angst chapter...

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Ch 7 � Secrets, Dreams, Declarations & Devastation

Bubbles.

That was the first thing she noticed. Lots and lots of bubbles. The next thing she noted was the room�s pleasant warmth, as thick steam hanging in the air in big, billowy whorls enveloped her. Then the bubbles caught her eye again; they were glittering and sparkling like little hanging crystals, suspended amid the mist. She thought they looked beautiful.

As a matter of fact she thought the whole thing was beautiful and felt instantly at ease. Hermione sighed and dropped the robe she�d donned just moments before to explore the room, not giving a second thought as to why her bathroom was full of heavy steam, so thick in fact that she couldn�t quiet see in front of her. She already knew who was responsible for this unexpected little treat, her heartbeats picking up in anticipation of finding the culprit. Hermione walked, almost trance-like, forward until coming to the edge of the sunken tub and there, just visible out of the misty vapor, which, she noted contentedly, smelled of peppermint and eucalyptus, was a shock of pale blond hair.

�Draco?� she inquired, �What in the world is all this?� She heard the gentle rippling of water before she saw him and leaned forward, squinting her eyes to get a better peek at his emergence.

When his face appeared unexpectedly close to hers she caught her breath. Lord, did the man always have to be so irresistibly yummy? Even in the middle of the night, soaked from head to toe, he was amazing. Hermione grinned inwardly; she was such the lucky girl�

Draco looked a little surprised to see her. �You�re awake,� he said, his voice deep and husky. �You were asleep when I came in from patrol.�

�I was,� she agreed, �But apparently I woke up.� Hermione was a sound sleeper, she�d even recalled trying to stay awake until Draco returned, but her eyes betrayed her, they�d been heavy and sluggish and before she knew it, dreams had lulled her away. She couldn�t explain why she�d awakened. She surmised it was because she was so used to having Draco and his warmth next to her now when she slept, that his absence made her slumber fitful and uneasy. But the look in his eyes and the revelation of all that pale, slick looking skin and muscle was distracting her from her thoughts presently, so she forgot to mention it. Hermione, who had had a secret fantasy of having Draco all to herself in a setting much like this involving lots of suds, a certain ecstasy potion and kisses, was busy thinking of other things as her eyes were drawn decidedly lower until her exploratory gaze was stopped by the obstructing haze and bubbles and frowned. �Stupid bubbles,� she thought grumpily. The amused chuckle that startled her from her thoughts, forced her eyes back to his. Draco was grinning unabashedly back at her.

She straightened up intent on not letting him see the surge of desire that had suddenly filled her eyes, because she was unsure of her ability to deny him, more importantly deny herself, if Draco decided to proposition her this evening. He just looked too tempting tonight. She was thinking perhaps a speedy retreat was in order, but before she could even take a step, as if she would have anyway, in one swift move he was standing before her, in all his naked glistening splendor. Hermione gasped as Draco�s ascent sprayed her with droplets of fragrant water and he didn�t pause for even a moment, reaching for her, unconcerned with the fact that he was dripping wet and she was quite dry, wrapping his arms around her and in the process getting her thin nightgown thoroughly soaked. Hermione sputtered in weak protest, but once she was in his embrace, her words faded away and she melted against him. Draco�s eyes shone brightly as he searched her face, apparently liking what he found there as a warm smile graced his features and he beamed endearingly down at her.

�Join me,� was all he said, as his voice dropped several octaves and his hands began skimming the length of her body, reaching down and grasping the back of one leg, lifting it and pulling her against him. She sighed and watched with heavy lids as Draco�s eyes roved over her simple nightgown hotly, and she realized that it was now quite transparent and clung to her intimately.

Hermione had no voice to answer as his lips claimed hers, nor did she recall giving her consent to the removal of her clothing, but yet, here she stood writhing against him and trying to grasp when exactly her gown and panties were pulled off of her and tossed away. She was only aware of Draco, of the way his hands were gliding over her bare skin, of the way her heart was pounding and how she felt lightheaded and dizzy and that her legs could no longer support her weight as Draco moved his naked body against hers and she sagged in his arms. She vaguely registered being lifted into strong arms and then, suddenly she was engulfed in the most wonderful warmth. It was smooth and silky and delicious feeling, just the way Draco�s skin now felt as her hands roved hungrily over every crevice and ripple she could find.

Draco only held her close, groaning as she kissed his neck and temples and eyelids. Hermione, encouraged by his allowing her to take the lead, pulled his mouth to hers and fastened her lips over his time and again; turning her head at different angles, cradling his face in her hands and reveling in the way his kisses felt singularly new with each caress.

He pulled just a whispers length away from her and murmured, �You�re all I think about, Hermione,� softly against her lips, and began sprinkling small kisses along her cheeks and nose and jaw line. �This is all I ever want,� he added as his hands slipped below the water line and he pulled her onto his lap, tugging her close and gasping as his arousal was pressed tight between their bodies. Hermione groaned; this was sheer heaven being with him like this, hearing him talk like this. �You�re all I ever want,� he finished and kissed her then, a deep, soul searching kiss that shook them both and left them panting and trembling. �You know you�re the only one, don�t you?� his eyes locked with hers. �Forever.�

Hermione moaned his name as they surged upon each other, both of them exploring, touching, delighting in the way they made the other tremble and shudder. She pulled back and looked deep into the sparkling grey depths of his eyes and whimpered as his hand came up from underneath her to caress and stroke her inner thighs and the velvety heat of her core. Hermione began moving and thrusting against his hand and found her own reaching for him and grasping his length gently, stroking and running her palm and fingers along the slick, long expanse and then to her own surprise she found she was pulling herself up and positioning him at her center.

She didn�t think, she just acted; lowering herself onto him and locking eyes with Draco�s, which were now widened in revelation and pleasure as she felt his rigid length begin to enter her. Draco moaned, his hands holding her waist tenderly but firmly, effectively keeping her from plunging down upon him unrestrained.

�Hermione,� he croaked, �what are you doing? I thought you didn�t want this...� But Hermione did want it. She�d wanted it all along. She wanted it with him. She wanted so desperately to give in to him, to be filled to the brink with him. She just wanted it to be a confirmation and celebration of their union, of their bond as husband and wife, of their love. But this, this was sheer surrender to her passion. This was something totally carnal and wholly separate�it felt so amazing, so wonderful; could it truly be so wrong to give herself to him now?

�I do want this,� she said, her voice quivering. And she meant it. Her body wanted him and now she found it hard to keep from impaling herself upon him. Her desire was getting the better of her and she began squirming just a bit and grasped his shoulders tightly and let the feel of Draco and the water be her guide as she looked into his eyes and sank lower onto him.

She whispered to him, �Take me, Draco.�

He said nothing, just searched her eyes for a moment before his hands grasped her hips, holding them reverently and he leaned forward joining his lips to hers and as his tongue plunged into her mouth, he took her with one solid thrust upward.

Hermione gasped in shock. Maybe it was the feel of the water as it rocked against their joined bodies or the way he groaned her name over and over again into her skin as he held her close, not moving, just letting her feel him deep insider her; but in her haze of submission, she felt no pain, just the desire to be joined with this man.

She was dimly aware that he was talking to her, asking if she was all right? She thought he might have asked if they should stop, before she became impatient and started moving experimentally against him. His questions suddenly ceased then. Their movements started out slow at first, gentle and tender. But before long they were both gasping and writhing against one another; the water not aiding in their comfort, as Hermione grasped the side of the tub futilely, holding on as bubbles and water sloshed about them in erratic torrents, splashing and making them both sputter and gasp and giggle. Suddenly she was lifted up and Draco stood with her still joined to him. Reluctantly he set her down on shaky limbs on the cool tile floor, then he was beside her and had her lifted up again and was carrying her back to her room and to her bed.

They didn�t care a fig that they were wet; they just fell upon the bed in a tangle of limbs wrapped around each other, slick and needy. Then he was in her again, holding her to him, whispering words that she couldn�t quite understand, but that was making her heart skip beats nonetheless. They were again straining together; desperate now to fulfill that need that had been burning inside for too long.

She fell first, moaning his name and holding Draco tightly to her. Her eyes were wet with tears and she hugged him groaning and whimpering as her inner walls contracted and spasmed. It was intense and she was shuddering.

�Hermione��

She stopped moving and now all she felt was the dampness of the sheets beneath her and she kept her eyes tightly closed until her breathing could slow down.

�Hermione.� This time the tone was low and seductive. It was coming from somewhere to her left. Again came the lulling call of her name and finally she peeled an eye open and moaned quietly as a warm hand caressed her dewy brow. He was smiling at her knowingly.

�What?� Her tone was sheepish.

He grinned and leaned down, placing a small kiss to her lips and she caught her breath. �Everything okay?�

She blushed and pushed herself up onto her elbows. Her lower region was still buzzing and she was trembling slightly. �I � Yes, I�m fine.� Reality quickly set it and Hermione turned away slightly at the look in his eyes.

Oh my. He knew.

Before she could say anything he was next to her, holding her and pulling her to him.

Only this time, it was really him.

She huffed. She�d been dreaming. About him. And her. Doing IT. Again.

He chuckled and nuzzled her neck affectionately. �It sounded like a very nice dream.� Her eyes widened. Why did his voice have to be so low and smooth all the time? It was positively indecent the way he sounded and it sent goose bumps flaring all up and down her body. �Wanna tell me about it?� he suggested, sliding a palm down to caress an already hardened and aroused nipple. He made a sound in his throat when he touched her there, feeling her taut nub straining against the material of her nightgown and he nipped at her ear. She shuddered.

This was bad. Her passions were already roused from her dream and thinking about it made her wriggle to try and relieve some of the pressure that was quickly building again.

Draco�s voice in her ear made her groan. �Seems like dream-Draco didn�t do such a good job at taking care of you.� He said this while kissing her neck and throat. Soft, wet kisses that made her breath hitch in her chest. He moved to her ear again, making sure to hit that sweet spot just on the outer edge of her lobe, letting his tongue slid slowly around it and she grasped his arms tightly and shuddered. He grinned. Lord how he loved the way she shook when he hit that spot. �Perhaps the real Draco can make things all better.�

�What makes you think I was dreaming about you?� she asked, trying not to sound grumpy.

He pulled back and observed her closely, taking one long strand of hair and twining a curl around his finger, then running the strand of hair up and across his mouth. He watched through heavy lidded eyes as she licked her suddenly dry lips. �Not dreaming about me, eh? So, tell me,� he said after a minute of composing himself and suppressing what sounded suspiciously like a snicker. �How many other blokes named �Draco� do you know precisely? And, more importantly, how many of them do you moan about in your sleep?�

Prat. Hermione narrowed her eyes.

He raised his eyebrows expectantly and was clearly fighting back outright laughter now. She could see his how his lips were tugging at the corners of his mouth. He wasn�t very successful in his attempts.

He was an absolute prat. Smug, cocky, completely one hundred percent correct � prat.

Hermione was mortified. Usually when she�d have these dreams he was sound asleep next to her and she would start awake in a fog and manage to calm herself down and get back to an uneasy sleep. Now however there was no getting around what it was she was dreaming about. It was fairly obvious and what was also obvious was that he knew.

�I have no idea what you�re talking about.� She tried to lie. �And � and, I most certainly was not moaning your name in my sleep.� She turned her chin away from him haughtily. He was still grinning. �Did I?�

He pulled back and even in the darkness she could see his eyes twinkling merrily.

��Fraid so�� He nodded sympathetically.

Ugh.

�You know you should feel glad that I�m being so calm about you calling out a man�s name in your sleep.� Hermione�s mouth dropped open in exasperation.

She sighed. �Okay, I�ll bite. Why should I be glad?�

Draco looked at her smugly. �If I had heard any other man�s name coming from your lips, Lord only knows what I would have done�� When Hermione only rolled her eyes and shook her head, clearly not impressed, he shrugged and continued. �So, what exactly was dream-Draco doing to you to elicit such a response, hmmm?� When Hermione only buried her face into the crook of his neck trying to hide and would not answer he tugged her back to face him. �You know,� he said quietly, �I have dreams about you all the time.� At that she peeked up at him.

�You do?�

He nodded. �All the time. Why do you think I wake you in the middle of the night sometimes? When I have to hold you or just feel you?� He smiled sweetly. �You�re quite the tease in my dreams.� The tenderness in his eyes told her he was not mocking her and she relaxed just a bit. His eyelids dropped then and he gazed at her with that look that made her insides turn into mush and made her positively want to swoon. Presently it was making her blush furiously. What Hermione didn�t know was that Draco was thinking back upon some of his own dreams with his lovely Gryffindor�

Draco had absolutely NO intention of telling her that that was an outright fib. The Hermione in his dreams was actually very accommodating to even the wildest of his fantasies. Someday he even hoped to live out quite a few of them, if the real-thing would be so inclined.

Hermione huffed, but he only chuckled and began tugging at the bottom of her nightgown trying to pull it up over her head. �Come on� he coaxed sweetly, �If you tell me what I was doing, perhaps this time I will do it even better.� His voice was absolute sex. Hermione�s breath sped up. She devoured him with her eyes as his words tolled a promise in her head.

Even better�

Well, there would have to be a first time, before he could improve on something that she was quite sure would be mind-blowing even from the beginning. Hermione began squirming to pull away from him then, gently pushing at his hands. Letting him touch her tonight was not a very good idea.

�I don�t � I mean, we were, well � Uh�� she faltered. She couldn�t even finish, because she was scared if it came out what she�d been dreaming about, if she dared put voice to her thoughts she�d no doubt demand to see just how �much better� he could be.

Because her dreams were pretty damned spectacular.

Suddenly realization dawned on Draco. It hit him like a bludger in the chest and his hands froze in their efforts to free her of her garment and he tossed his head back laughing lowly. �Now I understand.� He resumed his quest and gave a firm tug again to her nightgown and Hermione gave up her half-hearted attempt to stop him. He pulled it off of her and tossed it away, sliding his hands up sensuously along her warm skin and looked deep into her eyes. His gaze captured her and made her quiet breathless when he announced, �I promise you this, Hermione,� he said this so seriously that she gulped, �that I will be even better than whatever you dreamt I could do.� She had no doubt whatsoever that he meant every word and that he could deliver on that pledge.

Hermione�s hands flew to her face and he found it utterly adorable how she could still be so shy around him, even after everything they had shared together. It was endearing, her sweetness and virtuousness.

He just looked down at his girl and let out an amused snort, sitting up and tugging his shirt off over his head and falling back down to her. It was only minutes before the heat that rose to a fever pitch whenever they touched was raging again. He rolled over her and fitted his body between her legs and she thrust her hips against him. Hermione�s rhythm was making his head spin. She felt so perfect against him. He lifted up to help her when Hermione�s hands skittered down his chest to the waist of his pants and she unbuttoned them impatiently.

They both tugged down his pants and shorts, then there was only her small knickers between them. They made no move to take them off. It was safer that way. (In Hermione�s opinion, that was.) It felt too good the other way � skin to skin. Too tempting. Draco began moving against her with slow thrusts. He looked down at her and rotated his hips against her heat and his voice hitched low in his throat when he spoke. �This is what I want to do to you, Hermione. I want to be inside you. I want all of you.� Hermione�s eyes were wide like saucers, black pearls that reflected everything she was feeling, everything she couldn�t articulate into words and he groaned. She wanted it too. �You want it too.� He echoed his thoughts. �I know you do. When you�re ready, I�m here. I�m waiting.� He was panting now and her knickers were wet from both of their desire. He thrust openly, insistently against her, stretching the material to its limits, not caring if it hurt even just a bit. He wanted to rip those panties off her; it was only his respect for her that kept him from doing just that. He groaned as Hermione responded in like, squirming and gasping and clutching at him desperately, swaying her hips this way and that, trying to seek the true relief that neither could get.

In the back of his mind he marveled at how she thought this was safe? Didn�t she know he could nudge that damned, offending material aside with just one quick move of his hips and be inside her before she even knew what had happened? He wanted it. She wanted it. But what held her back?

Somewhere, in the dark corner of his mind he wondered if maybe she didn�t really want him after all? Perhaps she was just waiting for someone else to display an interest in her?

Someone who would be more suited to her? Someone who she could be with out in the open and never have to worry about defending her feelings for him, or pretend to ignore the whispers and accusations that were sure to follow when their relationship came to light.

Draco groaned when Hermione suddenly slid her hands down his back to his bottom and ground her hips up against him pushing him firmly down to her. He couldn�t help it when she did things like that. He lost his control and dropped his head helplessly into her shoulder and came with a great shudder. He was stiff and rock hard and when he jerked against her as he came, he rubbed against her clitoris just so and she shattered right on his heels.

She held him against her firmly struggling to regain her breathing as the last of their orgasms faded. Draco was coated in a thin sheen of perspiration and as he rolled away from her and dropped down onto his back, his eyes fluttering closed in exhaustion Hermione turned to watch him and thought he was just the most beautiful thing she�d ever seen.

She went to the restroom to clean herself a bit and when she came back Draco was fast asleep.

Hermione looked down at his sleeping form and frowned slightly. She couldn�t help the little niggling thoughts that were creeping in her head, that maybe he was getting tired of waiting for her. It wasn�t in anything he said. He was openly telling her all the time now that he wanted to be with her � inside her. And that he would wait until she was ready.

But she knew otherwise.

She could feel it. But still � no one even knew they were a couple. Didn�t he want to be seen with her? Didn�t he want to be public with their relationship?

No matter what else Hermione felt, even if her decision not to have sex before marriage was waning a bit, she just couldn�t do it if the man she wanted to share that gift with couldn�t even declare her as his openly.

Hermione crawled into bed and Draco�s arm immediately sought her out, pulling her against him and he sighed in his sleep, holding her tightly. She closed her eyes, troubled. She just felt so right in his arms.

But if things were ever going to move forward, she was going to have to talk to Draco. Hermione was never one to want to push any kind of relationship issues. She didn�t think that it would work if she pushed, but they�d been together now for over six months and spring was upon them.

In just a few short months they�d be graduating and leaving Hogwarts forever.

Leaving their private rooms, where they could be alone. Where they could be together without worry or judgment.

And what would they do then? How would they survive in the real world if even in here, within these forgiving and sympathetic walls of Hogwarts they couldn�t come out as a couple?

She wasn�t concerned about the gossipmongers. Hermione was used to that sort of unflattering attention. She wasn�t afraid of what her classmates thought either. Hermione had never been one to conform anyway. And she already knew her parents would accept Draco. They would love him because she loved him. Besides, he could charm the pants off anyone when he wanted too. So his gaining their favor wasn�t that big a worry.

His parents were an entirely separate issue. One that she�d only dared bring up once after they�d returned from Christmas break. He�d said not to fret about his family. They loved him and ultimately, whomever he wanted to be with, was his decision. His only. He�d been so final about it and it had still been rather early on in their courtship that she didn�t push the issue. He must know best where his family was concerned.

Hermione was, however, concerned about her best friends. She needed them to be prepared to accept Draco. She hoped they wouldn�t put up too much of a fuss before they came to realize that he was � she hoped � a permanent fixture in her life.

Hermione settled into a restless sleep. Even being wrapped up snugly in Draco�s warm embrace wasn�t soothing her fretful spirit this night. She was beginning to feel the walls crumbling around their private sanctuary.

She just hoped they could survive the fallout.

----- -----

Draco had just walked into the boys loo and was rounding the corner into the main part of the restroom when he froze hearing two of his least favorite people chuckling and talking low.

His expression soured at the laugh he heard then. �Weasel� he thought bitterly. These last couple of weeks he�d been a bit more on the obsessive side than usual where the ginger-haired Gryffindor was concerned. Draco had caught Weasel ogling Hermione on one too many occasions as of late. And, to Draco�s horror, he�d been trying to sidle up to Hermione more and more often to try and escort her to class or carry her book bag for her. For Hermione�s part, she simply quirked an eyebrow at him and shook her head bemusedly as they walked to their respective rooms. And she always carried her own bag.

It was silly really, but Draco took great pleasure in purposely swooping in on those occasions and making some sly comment about a lady not being allowed to wander the halls unescorted and he�d make a big show of taking her bag from her too, amid her weak protests. He knew it got to the Weasel and Hermione didn�t even notice.

Well, why would she? After all, he was her boyfriend. Even if no one else knew it, and if anyone could carry her schoolbag (even though it weighed approximately as much as Hermione did) it should be him. She didn�t seem to take note if anyone thought it strange and never mentioned it. She just smiled indulgently at him and let Draco have his way. He never heard the complaining that Weasel made to Hermione when they were away from Draco, nor how she just brushed it aside with simple excuses.

Hermione just liked having Draco�s attention and it didn�t matter that she had to do a little fancy-foot work around her boys until she and Draco came forward with their relationship. Once they were out in the open, if they came out in the open, the boys would know why she allowed Draco such privileges and freedoms with her.

Then everything would be okay. She hoped.

But Draco did not know this at all. He saw Weasley�s intentions and feelings for Hermione correctly, but, be it jealousy or stubbornness, Draco didn�t see that those feelings would never be returned on her part.

Draco would look back on this time in later years and cringe. It was a time for mistakes and regrets; some that he almost didn�t recover from.

But for now, with hindsight simply a wishful tool that he didn�t have at his disposal, Draco Malfoy was near his wits end with Weasley and his antics to garner more of Hermione�s attention.

He knew the dunce was hopelessly in love with Hermione and he dreaded the possibility that Weasley may tell her and that Hermione would perhaps return the feelings.

It was one of his worst fears. For Draco was quite insecure when it came to Weasley and all the past bad blood between the trio and he. And, the fact that Weasley would never let him try to move beyond it certainly didn�t help. Draco just couldn�t shake the anxiety that Hermione would suddenly wake up one day and listen to this freckle-faced dope and the rubbish he was continually spewing about Draco and start to believe him.

Then Draco would lose her.

And that would tear him apart, because he wasn�t sure he would really fight for her if she chose to leave him. Not because he didn�t want to be with her! No, no. More because he knew he wasn�t the best choice for Hermione. Hell, ask anyone and they�d all agree, in unison.

Draco knew the terrible things he�d done and said to her over the years still bothered her. Merlin, it still bothered him. It would eat away at him, making him jumpy and irritable. Especially when he would be joking or kidding around with Hermione and he�d say something in jest, and he�d see it � this thing flash across her face. This look in her eyes and it hurt. It hurt terribly.

She never said anything of course. Hermione was much too kind-hearted to make him feel bad. She�d told him often enough that he had paid for his sins already. The past was the past and to let it go. Like she�d done.

But � had she? Really?

Draco sighed. He�d been an ass when he was a kid, pure and simple. But he grew out of it. People CAN change if they so choose. And he had chosen to.

He�d grown up and tried his very best to make amends, to be a �good-guy�, because he wanted too. And more than that, he � well � he loved this woman. And he wanted to make her proud of him.

Can you imagine that? Draco wanted to make her proud. Because he loved her.

Draco felt the corner of his lips quirk. It felt good, testing the word out in his head. He almost felt like he might even be able to say it aloud. Almost.

Love.

That was a big, giant word. It was an enormous emotion and an obligation � a vow even, that he was scared to presume that he even knew how to handle.

He in fact KNEW that he didn�t know how to handle it. But, it was happening to him.

He, Draco Lucius Malfoy was in love with Hermione Jane Granger.

And the idea of approaching this thing � this commitment of Love�well, to him it seemed like a colossal mountain, soaring up into the heavens so high that he couldn�t see the top of it. But he wanted to make that climb. To reach that pinnacle. Merlin, he didn�t even know where to look to find the trail to begin his ascent!

That�s okay though, Draco would find a way.

The old muggle saying that Hermione liked to toss out often came to him then: Where there is a will, there is a way.

Draco thought he rather fancied that saying. He might even take the adage to heart�

Draco took a calming breath and was just about to leave and go find his witch, when he heard Potter say Hermione�s name. He spun around and tried to listen to their conversation, pressing himself up against the wall to hear more clearly.

He grimaced. Potter � A.K.A. The Idiot was busy telling The Bane of Draco�s Existence � A.K.A. the Weasel, how Hermione, his Hermione fancied someone! Draco ignored how his heart leapt at the unexpected thrill. So, Hermione had been talking to them about him! Good. But stupid Potter obviously didn�t have a clue that Hermione was talking about him.

Draco snorted. Typical. Merlin�s balls, it was a bloody miracle that Potter was still walking and talking and in possession of all his limbs, with the way his lightning quick brain worked�How he defeated the most villainous wizard of the age, Draco still couldn�t fathom. He really was a lucky bastard.

He held back a grunt as he listened to Saint Potter ramble away to Weasley telling him � �Of course, Ron who else would it be that she fancied? It had to be him��

Draco wanted to storm over to the two morons and shout at them that it wasn�t Weasley, but him! Draco was who she was with, who she fancied.

His fists were clenched at his side, he only noticed this when he found himself reaching for his wand and the grip he had on his fist lessened and he winced from the stiffness.

He�d show them! Draco took a step forward but stopped short. His overactive mind was working furiously again�

He heard it clearly � the little voice of evil, vindictive Draco snickering into his ear, filling his head with horrible thoughts. He grimaced again as the thoughts rushed into his ears, filling him with doubt and uncertainty. �What if Potter is right, Draco? What if Hermione really could fancy Weasley? What if she�s been waiting all this time for you to declare yourself to everyone that she is yours, and because you�ve taken too long she�s thinking maybe you really don�t want to be with her? Can you blame her if she�d go to a bloke who�ll claim her as his openly?

�Everyone knows how Weasley feels about her anyway. Everyone has known for years�No one knows how you feel though, do they?�

Draco shrank back and turned abruptly and left.

He had some serious thinking to do.

Hours later Draco found himself out by the lake contemplating and making some serious decisions. The time was almost upon him when he�d be leaving this place and he knew now that when he left, he wanted to bring Hermione with him. Sitting in the crisp air and the quite had helped to clear the demons that had been plaguing him and settle his restless spirit. With a firm resolve now in place he stood up and decided that the time had come.

No one but Draco Malfoy was ever going to be with Hermione Granger. Not Potter, not some unknown suitor, not that creepy Ravenclaw bloke, what�s-his-name and most definitely NOT Ron Weasley.

Draco was going to go find Hermione and announce to anyone and everyone within shouting distance that she belonged to him.

----- -----

�Please?�

�No.�

�Why not?�

�Because I don�t want too.�

�Hermione��

Big sigh. �No.�

�I don�t get it. Just last week you let me and now��

�Why am I not surprised.� Hermione sighed exasperated.

�Not surprised about what?�

�That you don�t get it, of course. And I most certainly did NOT let you.�

�Hermione, you�ve changed. You know that don�t you?� came the sullen reply.

Hermione closed her eyes in an effort to hold onto her good mood. She simply would not let herself get upset��How do you figure?�

�Well for starters, for years you�ve been okay with me copying off of your homework, now all of a sudden you�re not!�

She let out a long, slow breath and forced a smile. Hermione had been having such a nice day...Such a wonderful week actually, no, no make it an amazing month!

As a matter of fact, Hermione Granger was having the time of her life.

Ask anyone; they could all see it, even if they didn�t know the actual reason for her genuine, joyful smile and vivacious attitude�

But HE did.

And, for now that was all that mattered. As she thought about Draco her mind drifted off.

Sure classes were tough, Head duties were an added pressure, but they were nothing she wasn�t prepared to handle. Besides, she had the most handsome boy in school waiting for her every evening, and that more than made up for the huge workload!

Plus, spring was almost upon them, Hermione�s favorite time of the year. She simply adored the brusque cool weather, the promise of new life whispering in the very air itself. It was the perfect season for cuddling up in warm, fuzzy sweaters and taking long afternoon walks, drinking pots of hot cocoa (a muggle custom she refused to give up) and snuggling by the fire�(Which she happily found herself doing most evenings now with a certain surprisingly snuggly Slytherin.)

Hermione sighed dreamily, as she glanced out the soaring, ornate windows of the library and was immediately reminded of a pair of intense, beautiful eyes the exact shade of the late afternoon heavens. Eyes that she found herself lost in every time they fell upon her. Not to mention those incredible lips that she couldn�t wait to kiss, that voice so low and rich that she could hear him murmuring her name even now. And then there were those hands of his that could make her heart flutter wildly just by stroking her cheek, or�

�Mione, are you listening to me? And why are you smiling like that?�

Hermione jumped, she was daydreaming again. �Oh, for heaven�s sakes RONALD, I heard you and I�ve NEVER been okay with you copying off of my homework. If you don�t know that by now�� Hermione shook her head slowly in frustration. �And, incidentally, I did NOT let you copy my homework last week, you took it from me and refused to return it until you had copied it!�

Ron didn�t seem to hear any of this though, as with a dramatic sweep of his hands to his temples he pressed on, �Mione, please��

Hermione shook her head again, tutting at him. �Your theatrics are lost on me Ronald Weasley.� She replied primly, not in the least affected by his little act.

�Argh! Why are you being so stubborn? This is a really hard spell and I need your help.� Ron grumbled.

�That�s exactly why Ron, because it is a hard spell and a very useful one. One that you may someday need to know how to do and what good would it be if you didn�t learn it properly and just copied my work?�

�I will learn it,� Ron began and Hermione looked up hopefully, �By copying your homework!�

�Honestly!� Hermione snapped, �You�re simply impossible.�

Harry, who had been sitting quietly this entire time, busily working on his homework with his head bent low and a grin firmly affixed to his face, slowly looked up between his two best friends and his grin grew to a broad smile.

He knew where this was headed, but as much as he�d love to stick around and enjoy the show, he had his delectable girlfriend waiting for him and currently the only thing he could concentrate on was getting his hands buried deep into those flaming locks of hers and letting his lips caress and kiss every part of her warm body�

�Harry?� Ron turned to him, jolting him from his thoughts, �You agree right?�

��Bout what?� Harry said innocently.

�That we need help with the spell!� Ron�s big blue eyes were wide and beseeching.

�Uhh,� Harry began as tried his best to hide the mischievous grin that was teasing his lips. �Sorry mate, but you�re on your own. I already finished my Transfiguration homework.�

�HAR-RY!� Ron hissed, raising his eyebrows at him and widening his eyes in a silent plea for male solidarity and help. �I need the notes for the homework-�

Harry looked at Ron, his own eyebrows raised in a silent question. Ron looked back just as intently and Harry smiled knowingly and stood up to leave.

Yeah, he knew what Ron needed and it wasn�t Hermione�s class notes.

Harry turned to Hermione, his eyes sparkling mischievously. �Mione,� he said, as he scooped up his books and dropped them into his schoolbag, �It�s not your notes that Ron needs.�

With that he slung his book bag over his shoulder shared a significant look at Ron, winked at Hermione and strolled away from the table without a backwards glance.

----- -----

Harry was grinning from ear to ear. Finally he�d done something he could feel good about in helping to get his two best friends together!

�It�s about time.� He thought smugly, feeling sure that the two were destined to be just as happy as he was with Ginny.

Life was good�and Harry felt great!

As a matter of fact he couldn�t wait to share the good news with Ginny.

Harry rounded another corner in the library and ran right into a soft, warm body, his arms encircling around her to steady them both and he smiled into the prettiest pair of hazel eyes he�d ever seen.

�I was just coming to find you,� he whispered huskily.

�Were you now?� Ginny replied, wrapping her arms tightly around Harry�s waist and standing on tippy-toes to give him a soft kiss. �Well, here I am. Anything you�re going to do about it?�

Harry groaned. �Yes ma�am. Lots,� he purred, smirking in satisfaction as Ginny shivered slightly. He turned and pulled her down a dark isle and pushed her firmly up against a bookcase and began nibbling on Ginny�s neck.

�Merlin Harry, I love it when you do that,� she moaned softly.

Harry grinned. �I know,� and pulled back to kiss her thoroughly. Just as she was impatiently tugging at the clasp on his robes he whispered in Ginny�s ear, �I have a surprise for you.�

Ginny pulled back. �Really, what is it?� She looked closely at him and suddenly couldn�t help but be the teensiest bit worried at the completely smug look on Harry�s face. �You know I�m not a big fan of surprises, Harry. They have a tendency to backfire.�

Harry dropped his head down to nuzzle the crook of her neck and spoke between butterfly kisses. �This one won�t. Now, I�m not sure I want to even tell you. Maybe I�ll just let you find out from them��

�Wh � What do you mean them? Who is them?� Ginny pulled his head back up to face her, the deep longing in Ginny�s eyes of moments ago was now gone.

Harry sighed inwardly. �I shouldn�t have said anything till later. Much later.� He wanted that look back in Ginny�s eyes and fast.

Harry reached for her again and she pushed him back. �What them? What�s going on, Harry?� Harry sighed and frowned slightly at Ginny�s suddenly anxious expression. �Harry!�

�All right, okay, I�ll tell you, but you can�t go over there yet.� He relented.

�Tell me what, Harry?� Ginny was getting edgy.

�I think Ron is finally going to tell Hermione how he feels about her. �

Ginny�s mouth dropped open. �He�s going to do what?�

�He�s going to��

�Where?� Ginny snapped, cutting him off.

Harry�s grin slipped a bit. �Here, in the library. Why? What�s wrong?�

Ginny was yanking him along as she spoke. �We have to get there before he goes and opens his big mouth! Harry, how could you have let this happen? What�s the matter with you?�

Harry stopped dead and no matter how hard Ginny pulled he would not be budged. �What in the bloody hell is the matter with me? What�s wrong with you? Ron�s completely mental over Hermione. You KNOW that!�

Ginny groaned yanking Harry again. He simply looked at her unmoving. �COME ON Harry, we don�t have time for this!� �Why did he have to be so much stronger and bigger than me?� Ginny fumed.

�Not until you tell me what is so wrong with them getting together.� Harry said flatly, folding his arms stubbornly across his chest.

Ginny rolled her eyes. �Harry, Love, I know you meant well by leaving them alone, but, don�t you see? Mione doesn�t want to be with Ron!�

�Don�t be ridiculous, Ginny. I told you she�s been telling me she found someone she fancies. Who else would it be?�

Ginny stopped tugging on Harry�s robes for a moment and looked at him completely flabbergasted. �How can someone as smart as you be so dense?� When Harry scowled at her she groaned again throwing her arms up in frustration. �You, you haven�t guessed who she fancies? Really?�

Harry�s eyes narrowed dangerously and he shook his head. �If it�s not Ron, then who is it?�

Oh. This was bad.

Ginny began to beat herself up mentally for not having clued her sweet well-intentioned, but clearly oblivious boyfriend in. �I � I thought you just didn�t want to talk about it. I mean, you said you knew! I just thought since the two of you don�t get along�She�s so obvious. Hell, they�re so obvious. I thought for sure��

�Gin� Harry said quietly, �Stop talking in riddles. If you know who Mione fancies and it�s not Ron, then who is it?�

�Oh Merlin, Harry!� Ginny snapped frustrated. �It�s Malfoy. She�s taken with Malfoy!�

To Ginny�s surprise Harry just dropped his head back and began laughing. Ginny cast wary eyes around, she didn�t mean to say that so loud. She hoped no one heard.

�That�s funny, Gin.� Harry chocked out between chuckles.

�Yeah, only I�m not being funny, Harry.� Ginny hissed. She turned around on her heels and headed back down the isle.

Harry was on her in a flash. �Where are you going?�

�To save your two best friends from possibly ending their friendship. And to save my brother from getting his heart broken. Bloody, blind, stubborn prat that he is.�

�Hang on, Ginny! You can�t possibly be serious!� Harry grinned, but at the look on Ginny�s face his smile faded completely. �You�re serious.�

Ginny sighed. �Harry, for heaven�s sakes, it�s been since last year�She started calling him Draco�They spent all that time together in the library. She defended him when Ron went all mental yelling about Malfoy and his dad still being on Voldemort�s side. Remember? And at the end of school year, on the train, Hermione lit up like a Christmas tree when Draco walked her to our cabin. Draco acted like he wanted to hex Ron for even looking at Hermione. Don�t you remember any of that?�

Harry frowned. He remembered Malfoy eyeing Ginny on the train very well, but not much else. �Not really,� he answered.

Ginny rolled her eyes and made a funny sound at the back of her throat. �Merlin, you two are thick as posts. Did we attend the same school last year?�

Harry�s eyes narrowed. �Ginny��

�I know, I know�you had your hands full last year. And don�t you give me that look. All I�m saying is that Mione doesn�t fancy Ron. She�s head over heels for Malfoy. Just being around her these days makes it so apparent. Harry, she glowing and radiantly happy � and especially when she�s around Draco.�

Harry�s brow furrowed. �I suppose she is...But what�s that got to do with Malfoy?� He said skeptically. �And since when have you started calling him �Draco�?� Now Harry�s eyes darkened threateningly.

Ginny rolled her eyes. �Really Harry, focus, please. She�s obviously in love. And it�s NOT with Ron, it�s with Malfoy.� Ginny began pulling a reluctant Harry along behind her again. �Now do you see why we can�t let him tell her how he feels?�

�Malfoy?� Harry said weakly. His stomach just churned violently at the thought. �If he�s touched her��

�It�s NONE of our business, Harry.� Ginny stated firmly. �Besides, haven�t you seen how he looks at her these days? He watches her constantly in the halls, during meals. There�s something going on for sure.�

Harry stopped again. �Then WHY wouldn�t she TELL ME?� he snapped, finally getting angry. He was upset that somehow Malfoy had managed to manipulate his way into Hermione�s life and he hadn�t been able to stop it.

�She was TRYING to tell you, Harry!� Ginny groaned. �What do you think she�s been doing these past few weeks?�

�Why couldn�t she just tell me outright?�

�Probably because she knew you�d react just like you are right now! You�re being irate and completely unsupportive and irrational.�

�I am NOT!� Harry balked.

�Harry, he�s changed. You�ve said so yourself. Even if you don�t like him, you have to admit that much is true.� Harry shrugged noncommittally. �She�s GOOD for him.� Harry�s scowl deepened and Ginny hissed, �Let�s argue about it later, right now we need to get over there!� She turned and raced out of the aisle and poked her head back. �Coming?�

Harry sighed; he�d so thought he was doing a good thing. �Yeah, yeah,� he grumbled. �This is the last time I try and play Cupid before consulting with you!�

Ginny turned suddenly and grabbed Harry close, planting a soft, warm kiss full on his lips. He was so stunned he just stood there, mouth agape, until he felt her tongue sweep into his mouth and he wrapped his arms tightly around her and kissed back just as passionately. �What was that for?� he panted finally, pulling away.

Ginny grinned breathing just as hard and let her hands run down his arms before twining her fingers in with his. �Because I love you. Because you�re wonderful. And because you learned a valuable lesson.�

�And that is?� Harry asked with narrowed eyes.

�To never meddle in people�s love lives before first consulting with your all-knowing and infinitely wise girlfriend.�

Harry groaned and rolled his eyes. �Come on,� he said grasping her hand and heading off to try and stop what he�d started just a short while ago.

----- -----

Ron�s voice was suddenly gone and all he found he could do was make a choking noise in the back of his throat as he felt his embarrassment well up and shine through on his face. He just COULD NOT fathom why Harry had done that to him!

Harry KNEW he wasn�t ready to tell her yet�

Hermione, flustered and speechless, finally turned to look at Ron sitting directly across from her and watched as Ron turned all kinds of shades of red. Her heart began beating uncomfortably fast. �Oh�OH! UH OH.� Hermione thought.

�Hermione� � �Ron� they said at the same time.

Hermione realized with a sinking feeling that this was most likely all her fault. She�d been trying to find a subtle way to ease Harry into the idea that she liked someone. Dropping little hints here and there for the past couple of weeks.

Granted Harry and Ron were a tad thick, so she was being a bit more obvious than she would have, if say approaching Ginny.

Ginny.

Hermione sighed. Ginny knew�Hermione KNEW she did. Every time Hermione mentioned Draco, Ginny�s eyes would twinkle and shine in perceptive amusement. She could tell Ginny was just bursting to talk about it, but was honoring her privacy.

Why couldn�t Ginny have helped her out of this mess with Harry then, if she knew?

�Probably because you didn�t ASK her to Hermione.� She chided herself. For some reason, Hermione thought she owed it to Harry and Ron to let them know first. They were her dearest friends after all. Then she�d have approached Ginny.

�FOOLISH Hermione�UTTERLY FOOLISH!�

Hermione had been working on this very carefully, she understood that once she had Harry accepting there was finally a boy she was interested in, then she�d ease him into the fact that it was Draco.

She couldn�t let on to Ron yet. OH NO. Hermione needed Harry on her side first, because it was going to take the both of them to get Ron to see her point of view. Even then she didn�t think he�d ever really accept Draco. She just hoped he would put his feelings aside for her.

Hermione now realized with chilling clarity that she made one critical error. She told Harry she fancied someone true enough; but Hermione had NOT mentioned that it wasn�t Ron.

Hermione gasped involuntarily. �Ohhh nooo.� she thought, horrified as the comprehension of what she�d told Harry and how it must have sounded to him came flooding back.

�He thinks�Harry thinks�� - �Oh goodness.� Hermione sighed. Well, it made perfect sense; of course he�d think she liked Ron.

Hermione groaned. Draco wasn�t going to like this one bit. He already felt threatened by Ron, and this may just damage any hopes she�d had for them all to come to accept each other.

This was most definitely bad.

Hermione had to do some damage control and quickly.

Vaguely she realized that Ron was speaking and tuned back into what he was saying. �So�Well, er, Harry was telling the truth, you know. Are you mad at me?�

Hermione blinked. �Mm-mad? About what again?�

Ron groaned. �About the homework, Mione. I just told you I�d already done it. You�re not mad at me are you?�

Hermione didn�t know what to do. �Uh, well, no, of course not. But why would you tell me you needed to copy it if you�d already finished it?� Even as she tried to concentrate on his words, Draco�s face was literally swimming before her eyes.

�I need to talk to Harry and quick, before he starts telling everyone I like Ron.� Hermione shuddered, the way gossip spread around here it would get back to Draco in a flash.

She blinked again and looked at Ron, his face was red and his eyes were surprisingly serious, as he looked deep into hers. �Are you ready to pay attention to me now?� he asked quietly. �I�m not quite sure I�ll have the nerve to say this twice.�

Hermione cast a quick glance around the library; it was quite empty, but she knew from experience that there was always someone lurking around a corner in this big, drafty place�

How right she was.

�Uh, Ron, maybe we should go back to the Gryffindor common room and talk there?� she asked hopefully. At least there she could keep the rumor control to just Gryffindors instead of anyone wandering about the library.

Ron shrugged, he looked decidedly nervous. �I don�t mind talking here. Besides I, I want to tell you now.� Hermione blushed and he gave her a sheepish grin. �It�s something I should have said a long time ago.�

Ron leaned forward across the table, his long arms reaching Hermione easily. He took her hands in his and she stiffened.

�Mione, Hermione�� Ron�s voice was deep and soft, and his eyes were filled with all the things that she wished she�d seen in them long ago.

The only thing Hermione wished for now was that they weren�t in such an open space.

This was NOT happening�WHY NOW?

Hermione couldn�t bear to hurt Ron. She LOVED him so desperately, just not like this.

She had thought maybe they could have gone that way a few years back, but he never pursued anything and she eventually moved on. Hermione needed a man who wasn�t afraid to declare himself, a man who would stand proudly by her side.

She blinked as a sudden pang of hurt washed over her. Draco, as affectionate and devoted as he was to her in the privacy of their own quarters, had yet to even discuss the idea of them coming out in the open as a couple.

Oh, he was definitely her boyfriend and they both now acknowledged that they were a serious couple for sure. And she�d already thought of him like that long before she let him touch her intimately. He wouldn�t have gotten that far if she didn�t. But, now she felt decidedly upset that they had to keep their relationship a secret.

They both knew it would cause waves if they became public about their being together, but she just didn�t expect to have a situation like this arise before they could tackle the issue.

It was just so unfair!

�Ron,� Hermione said gently, �you don�t have to say anything.�

�NO! I need to. Mione, I�ve been a total git this year,� he chuckled ruefully. �Actually a lot longer than that, and I know that this may seem like it�s coming from out of the blue but,� Ron paused and squeezed Hermione�s hands lightly. �Hermione, look at me.� He urged gently.

Hermione�s heart was thudding and she looked up into the face of the first boy she had ever dreamt of and wondered how she was going to be able to tell him she was in love, but not with him�

WAIT � �LOVE?�

Hermione gasped��LOVE? Am I in love with Draco?�

The answer hit her as clearly as if he was standing there looking into her eyes. �YES � OH YES!� her mind screamed.

Hermione realized it was true. She was in love with Draco.

She didn�t even have a moment to process her feelings, because just as she wished desperately she could see him, he was there, looking into her eyes.

Draco was THERE. Really there.

Only, it wasn�t a HAPPY, LOVING look he was casting her way, it was a hurt and VERY angry glare.

�Well, well, well. Isn�t this just too bloody cozy.� Draco sneered, jealously dripping from every pore of his being. He sauntered toward the table coming to a stop in front of Hermione. She sucked in her breath sharply and yanked her hands free from Ron�s grasp.

�Malfoy,� Ron growled. �What do you want?�

�I was actually coming for Granger�� Draco answered Ron, but his eyes were on Hermione. He shot a sneer Ron�s way and catching the look on Ron�s face he continued, �Head business.� He looked down into her stricken face and his heart fluttered dangerously. �But it appears you�re otherwise�engaged.� Draco turned threatening eyes on Ron then. �So Weasel,� Draco growled, �finally making your move on Granger eh? Took you long enough.� He paused and looked deep into Hermione�s eyes then up into Ron�s angry face. Draco�s eyebrows shot up and his voice was low, casual almost, �Maybe even too long?�

He looked down at Hermione questioningly and when her mouth only dropped open in surprise he snapped, �Then again, maybe I was mistaken. Clearly Granger here has made her choice, yes, Granger?�

�Draco! I, I - you�� Hermione gasped, trembling, her mind finally catching up with her body as she bolted up off her chair, suddenly shaking in desperation.

This was EXACTLY her worst fear.

She took a step toward him and he balked, �DON�T!� holding a shaky hand up to stop her.

Hermione froze, �No, no! This can�t be happening!� she thought frantically. � Draco! Let me -�

But Ron was up and in front of Hermione in an instant, placing himself squarely between her and Draco before she could get another word out, one hand protectively, possessively holding Hermione behind him, the other ready to reach for his wand. Draco rolled his eyes and glared at Ron.

�DON�T you talk to her, MALFOY! What do you want anyway? It�s Saturday, there�s no HEAD BUSINESS to be had on the weekends. This is a private conversation between Hermione and me. Why don�t you just bugger off back to your snake den. You�re not welcome here.� Ron glared at Draco and took a threatening step toward him.

Hermione pushed Ron aside and looked pleadingly at Draco. �Ron, PLEASE!� she hissed, glaring at him. She turned to Draco and reached out to him. �Draco, this isn�t what it looks like,� Hermione�s voice dropped, �You already know my choice!� she whispered frantically to him.

Draco�s eyes turned to her and for just a moment his emotions were unguarded and open for her to see. She gasped softly at the thoroughly wounded look she saw. Just as quickly he shut down and spat out, �Really, Granger? Because from here it looks like Weasel is your choice.�

�What the BLOODY HELL are you talking about, MALFOY? What choice?� Ron raged. �And what do her choices have anything to do with you?�

�Apparently nothing, Weasel,� Draco hissed and turned on his heel to leave. Unfortunately, his dramatic exit was cut short when Draco smacked right into Harry and Ginny who had come charging around the corner at that moment.

�OW! Bugger, Malfoy! Watch where you�re going!� Harry snapped, massaging his head where Draco had smacked into it.

�Oh how bloody wonderful!� Draco spat out, staggering back a few steps and grasping at his forehead. �The entire Golden Trio and company. Come to share in the happy news eh, Potter?�

�Draco!� Hermione was at his side in an instant, clutching at his arm and tugging him around to look at her. �Calm down and just let me EXPLAIN! It�s NOT what you think!�

Hermione looked back at Ron, his face was stricken and dark. �Hermione�� he said weakly.

�Ron,� Ginny interceded immediately, �Can I talk to you for a minute?� She shot Hermione a sympathetic look and nodded quickly. �Mione, you don�t mind if I talk to Ron, do you?�

�No� Hermione answered distantly, her eyes were glued to Draco. �Draco, let�s, let�s just go outside and talk for a minute.�

�I don�t have anything to say, presently.� His voice was frosty and curt. It sent little tremors of fear and hurt rippling through her and she felt suddenly numb and dizzy. But Hermione had a vice grip on his forearm and would not let him go and he was presently untangling her rigid fingers from him. �Potter, why don�t you tend to the happy couple,� Draco snapped as he flung Hermione�s hand away from him and glared at Potter before pushing past Hermione, ignoring her pleas to wait for her and exited the library in a rush.

�Hermione!� Ron called out again stopping Hermione just before she turned to chase after Draco. Ron shrugged free of Ginny�s hold on his arm and moved to Hermione in two quick strides. He reached out for her but she shook her head and pulled her arms out and away from him.

�I � I�m sorry, Ron.� She felt hot tears stinging the back of her eyes but refused to let them fall. �Please, I � I�m so, so sorry.� He opened his mouth to say something but she backed away from him as he reached out to try and touch her again. �Don�t!� she squeaked. �I have to go after him. Please try to understand. I have too��

�Understand? What am I understanding, Hermione?�

She shuddered. �Draco and I�� Hermione was wringing her hands desperately. �We, well, we�re�I can explain it all, Ron, Harry.� She looked at the both of them anxiously. �I can, I will. But not now. Right now he needs me. I have to go after him. He thinks that I don�t want to be with him! He needs to know how I feel.�

�How you feel? He needs you?� Ron looked very green all of a sudden. �You and Malfoy�� He sounded winded, like all the air had been sucked out of his lungs. He took a step back and goggled at Hermione in shock. Ginny reached him and put her hand on his arm but he yanked it free and turned back to Hermione. The look in his eyes was devastating.

�Ron, please! Please don�t look at me that way! I � I�m sorry.� Her voice quivered and she gave her friends one last pleading look and spun away, dashing out of the library and into the hallway after Draco.

He was already gone.

She called out to him � she knew her voice sounded panicky, but she didn�t care.

Hermione ran toward their rooms, hoping to catch him along the way, but he was not there. She reached their suite and ran inside; the place was cool and empty. It seemed distant and suddenly so very cold. She shivered.

She next searched the Great Hall and asked some second year Slytherin� coming up from the dungeons if they�d seen Draco heading that way. When they said no she finally ended up at the Quidditch Pitch.

She called out to him, turning in circles and searching the sky to see if he was there.

The only thing she saw was a blanket of frosty white snow covering the field. It was empty and cold and bleak � like how she felt.

Hermione sighed collapsing onto the frozen earth and finally let a sob escape. One choked-out cry turned into a torrent and she sat there rocking slowly with her arms wrapped around her middle, trembling and crying quite loudly for a very long time.

Now she had lost her friends� faith in her, perhaps even their friendship and definitely their trust.

She�d seen the blank look Harry had given her. He was clearly hurt. She was sure he felt betrayed for her not coming to him sooner about Draco.

And Ron.

She�d hurt Ron.

Ron, whom she would gladly give her life to protect before she let anyone harm him in any way � Well, she�d just done it. She�d crushed him. Hermione had seen the shocked look he gave her before she left to find Draco. She thought he might never forgive her for this...For going after Draco and leaving him behind.

But what could she do? She had to find Draco�

Draco.

The man she was in love with. The man she already knew she wanted to build a life with and grow old together with. He was her soul mate! How rare was that that you can even find your soul mate and she had him! Even through everything they had experienced all these years at Hogwarts, and even though they�d had so much hurt and bad blood between them, they had still managed to find one another.

But the way he had looked at her in the library, with such absolute heartbreak and sadness in his eyes. It made her lungs freeze and her heart stop. It cut her to the very bone.

She knew without a doubt that at that moment when he asked if she�d made her choice she should have jumped up and run to him. He had asked her and she had failed him. In that split second that she hesitated, she�d sealed her fate.

Hermione had just lost the love of her life.

She buried her face in her hands again and cried even harder.

----- -----

Draco Malfoy sat on his broom high above the Quidditch Stadium. He was sitting stock-still looking down from his perch onto the snowy white expanse of the field below him. He was watching intently the tiny fleck that had dashed into the middle of the field. He�d watched her enter the pitch and call out to him. He�d heard the desperation in her voice. Seen her frantic, jerky movements as she�d spun around and around looking for him. He had been careful to stay out of her line of vision the entire time.

Now, as he watched her fall to the ground crying, his mind, which had been utterly convinced just minutes before that she had left him for the Weasel � suddenly had its doubts.

Maybe she really did want to be with him?

Maybe she could someday even love him?

Maybe she was worth the effort to find out. Of course she was.

But was he even worth her forgiveness again for doubting her feelings? How could he have ever doubted her? Hermione was honest and true and incredibly devoted.

And he�d just walked away. No, he�d run away to hide from his feelings. Like a coward, instead of staying and telling Weasley that she belonged to him!

He could have done it then! He should have done it then. But instead of being a man, instead of taking that next step to making their relationship solid and forever�

He�d run away and hid.

Even now, he was still hiding. Sitting up in the darkening afternoon sky, tucked in among the clouds, using them to shield him and his heart like a formidable wall.

But Hermione had broken down all his walls long ago. And he didn�t want to hide from her or keep her at bay.

He wanted her with him. He felt safe and settled when she was next to him.

So, what the hell was keeping him from shouting it to the very highest turrets of Hogwarts that she was his? Suddenly the words of their portrait guardian, Ophelia washed over him, calming him just a bit. She�d told him that �whatever you do, Draco never let love slip through your fingers once you have it within your grasp.�

He�d had love in his grasp, and instead of holding on with both hands he felt it slipping away even now. Draco glanced down again at Hermione. She was so close, all he had to do was to go down there and reclaim it.

She was waiting for him. Right there, just waiting�

Was he ready again � after all that had just happened to declare himself? To make the commitment to her � to them?

He wondered if he had the courage to find out.

Would she even take him back now that he�d mucked up everything so horribly?

Maybe he would just see�

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A/N:

Well ladies and gents, there ya have it. Chapter 7. I know you�re all upset over Draco and his indecision. Me too! LOL. BUT, there has to be a little bit of angst and conflict in order for them to realize how happy they will be together�That is IF they end up together�(MUA-HAHAHAHA) Ah, sorry. Lost myself there for a sec.

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It Had To Be You